σεβαστός
sebastós
G4575 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Worthy of reverence or respect, imposing awe or veneration; in Roman imperial usage, employed as a title signifying 'Augustus,' designating someone held in high honor or dignity, especially the Roman Emperor. In adjectival usage, describing that which is revered, august, or concerning the imperial institution; in nominal usage, a formal honorific (Augustus, the emperor).
Semantic Range
worthy of reverence, venerable, august, imperial, pertaining to the emperor, Augustus (as an honorific/title)
Root / Etymology
From the passive verbal adjective suffix -τός attached to σέβω (to revere, honor, worship); ultimately from the root σεβ-/σεβασ- meaning 'to feel awe or reverence.' Hence σεβαστός means 'that which is revered' or 'worthy of reverence.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical Greek, σεβαστός was rare, primarily meaning 'august' or 'venerable.' In Hellenistic and especially Roman imperial contexts, the term becomes prominent as the adopted Greek equivalent of the Latin honorific Augustus, used for the first emperor and subsequently as part of the imperial titulature. In local government documents, decrees, and inscriptions, σεβαστός (and its derivatives like Σεβαστός ναός 'Sebasteion' for temples) indicated association with the imperial cult. In the New Testament and related literature, the word appears to refer specifically to the Roman emperor, translating the Latin title. English translations often render σεβαστός as 'Augustus' or 'the Emperor,' but the semantic range encompasses both general veneration and the specific imperial honorific; context determines the nuance. Its employment in the New Testament (cf. Acts 25:21,25) aligns with prevailing Roman political terminology, marking formal respect and the status of the emperor as a quasi-divine or supremely honored figure. The term also appears in inscriptions for both emperors and cities (e.g., Σέβαστος applied to Emperors or cities honored as Sebaste). Contrasts with related terms such as σεμνός ('dignified'), which lack the official imperial connotation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from σεβάζομαι; venerable (august), i.e. (as noun) a title of the Roman Emperor, or (as adjective) imperial:--Augustus(-').
Root Family
σεβαστός (sebastos) — to revere, to honor, to feel awe; worthy of reverence
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4575-01 |
Σεβαστῆς | sebastes | ADJ.A GEN F SG |
Augustan | of the Revered One | Augustan | 1 |
G4575-03 |
Σεβαστοῦ | sebastou | ADJ.S GEN M SG |
Emperor's | of the August One | of the August One | 1 |
G4575-02 |
Σεβαστὸν | sebaston | ADJ.S ACC M SG |
Augustus | the August One | Augustus | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4575-03 |
Acts 25:21 | Σεβαστοῦ | sebastou | ADJ.S GEN M SG |
Emperor's | of the August One | of the August One |
G4575-02 |
Acts 25:25 | Σεβαστὸν | sebaston | ADJ.S ACC M SG |
Augustus | the August One | Augustus |
G4575-01 |
Acts 27:1 | Σεβαστῆς | sebastes | ADJ.A GEN F SG |
Augustan | of the Revered One | Augustan |